Oil spill exercise at Whangamata

An all day oil spill exercise is due to be carried out at Whangamata Harbour on Tuesday 24 May by Waikato Regional Council, Whangamata Marina staff and other associated agencies.

“The purpose of the exercise is to practice deploying equipment used to help deal with spills and to have staff from different organisations practice all the other functions associated with managing such incidents,” said regional on-scene commander Adam Munro.

“Our aim is to maintain a well-trained core of oil spill responders from amongst council and other agencies so that we can work well together if there ever is an actual spill.

“Exercises like this help ensure that staff from different organisations can work well together when the need arises.”

The exercise will be carried out near the marina entrance.

Media and the general public are welcome to watch the exercise outside the cordoned area.